From 1889 to 1965, the school was segregated, separate but equal by ‘social pressure’ (i.e. racism) in Texas: Hispanic only. Our diversity is a great strength and should be celebrated, not used to divide us. When the Civil Rights movement integrated Marfa’s schools, Blackwell closed. Later some of the proud alumni organized to preserve their school building and grounds, and President Biden has now designated it an official park site, joining other schools in the system, such as Abiel Smith, Penn, Brown, and Little Rock.
Technically, Blackwell is still being “established”, meaning that the park service will acquire the property from Marfa’s school district by next year, so it’s not yet on the National Parks Travelers Club list. Blackwell is currently only open noon to 4pm on weekends—not the same time zone as El Paso—, and restoration plans are being decided. Inside are personal photos that bring back the old days, describing Principal Blackwell, teachers, students, athletes and community events. Hopefully, future exhibits will help bring those stories to life with a park film.
In 1955, Hollywood came to Marfa to film James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson in Giant. Before that the biggest thing to happen in Marfa was their baseball team, the Indians, competing for the championship in ‘29 and ‘48. Nowadays, Marfa is known for eclectic art exhibits and UFO’s. Just outside of town is a Prada display by the roadside, and if you go the other way, people watch the mysterious lights on the horizon that just have to be aliens. (Really, there’s no other explanation possible!).
I passed nearby Marfa when visiting Fort Davis, and it’s fascinating to me that the original stone school here was built while the fort was still in operation. I recommend staying at one of the quirky campgrounds like El Cósmico which has Tesla engineer designed Jupe shelters and getting local wine and pizza at Para Llevar (to go en Español). And just wander around this weird town that defies becoming a ghost.
Zero Carbon Travel 
Thank you for sharing the interesting history of Blackwell and its transition from a segregated school to now being designated as an official park site by President Biden. I’m curious to know more about the restoration plans for Blackwell and if there are any plans for expanding its hours of operation. How do you think preserving historical landmarks like Blackwell can benefit a community?
Cheers!
Steven G.
Texas Tows
texastows.com
Thanks. After the funding process is complete, the National Park Service will make necessary repairs to keep the building safe, preserved for posterity, comfortable for staff and visitors, and accessible. They do a lot of research, and typically they try to restore it to a specific time in history. The front entrance of the building has a half dozen concrete steps, and as I remember the back entrance is also not accessible. The floors inside are uneven, and the walls are cracked and tilted.
At the same time, the NPS also will improve the ways that visitors can understand the history. I’m sure there will be a park film, perhaps more bilingual exhibits, and certainly more comprehensive stories covering around 140 years. While the current exhibits are charming, they are more personal, rather than curated to answer the variety of questions that visitors will have. Fortunately, there is a community of people who have been caring for the site for many years, and they will have lots of good ideas on how to restore the site in a way that honors the history well.
The more varied attractions an area has, the more visitors will come, the more time they will spend visiting and the more they will spend money at the local hotels and restaurants. Folks like me, who try to visit as many national parks as possible can be found at sites across the country whenever they’re open. Most National Historic Sites are open at least three or four full days a week, although the more famous ones are open every day. Since this site is in such an interesting area, I wouldn’t be surprised to find it become quite popular next year.
Thank you for your informative reply. It’s great to hear that the National Park Service has plans to not only restore the physical building but also improve the ways visitors can understand the history of Blackwell. It’s important to preserve historical landmarks like Blackwell because they offer a glimpse into our past and remind us of the struggles and triumphs of those who came before us. Additionally, these landmarks can provide an economic boost to the surrounding community by attracting visitors who will spend money at local hotels and restaurants.
I’m excited to hear that Blackwell may become a popular destination in the near future. I look forward to visiting the restored site and learning more about its rich history. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge and passion for preserving historical landmarks.
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